Brian Dawkins Retires from NFL

Former Eagles Safety Brian Dawkins announced his Retirement from the NFL on April 23; this is what he said on his Twitter Page about Retirement: @Briandawkins “The Lord has blessed me to play in the NFL for 16 years. I would like to thank the Eagles & the Broncos 4 believing In me. I would like 2 thank all my teammates & Coaches that I have been blessed 2 go to battle with. Along with u, the fans 4 helping make my career 1 that i have enjoyed tremendously. In other words. I am announcing my retirement from the NFL” Dawkins Played 13 Years with the Philadelphia Eagles, 3 years with Denver Broncos

Here are some Quotes from Brian Dawkins about Retiring from NFL:

Dawkins on Jim Johnson: “I dont know if there would be a Weapon X, Wolverine, Idiot Man, that personality, if it weren’t for Jim Johnson.”

Dawkins on the Hall of Fame: “Do I want to be a Hall of Famer? It would be nice. If my number and name is called, it’ll be a blessing.”

Dawkins on legacy: Just want fans and teammates to say, “He gave everything he had till the last drop, whether it be on game day, preparation.”

Dawkins #1 moment: 2004 NFC title game. “To see the joy on Jim’s face. The tears in his eyes. ‘We did it. We did it.’ I’ll never forget it.”

Andy Reid on the retirement of Brian Dawkins: “The NFL will miss a player as talented, ferocious, and determined as Brian Dawkins. He was one of the most dedicated and hardest working players I have ever coached. Whether it was on the practice field, the film room or the weight room, Brian always put in the extra hours it took to become the star player that he was. And he transferred all of that and more onto the field on Sundays. He poured everything he could into doing whatever was best for his teammates and this organization. He was the unquestioned leader of our defense. He will go down as one of the greatest Eagles of all-time and I have no doubt we’ll be celebrating his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I wish he, his wife Connie, and his family all of the best during the next phase of their lives.”

Eagles owner Jeff Lurie on Watching Brian Dawkins Entrance coming out of Tunnel onto the Field: “Every time Brian ran out, I’d get goose bumps. It was uplifting – you’re excited for every player on the team and you’re excited for the game to start, but when Brian went through the tunnel, it was like you felt physically different. You felt goose bumps, and it was like, let’s get the game going and let’s watch #20 out there. It was very, very special, and it’s hard to explain. He was just a very special football player and person.”

Asante Samuel (@pick_six22) on Twitter: “@BrianDawkisn You have done great on and of the field. True definition of a warrior and passionate player. God Bless! #halloffamer

There are several moments that stand out for me when I think about Brian Dawkins, two of them were games I went to & still talk about today. The first thing that comes to mind about Brian Dawkins is the 2004 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons, during that game, Today everyone is talking about the Hit that Brian Dawkins Gave to Falcons Tight End Alge Crumpler, when that hit happened, it set the tone for the Eagles Defense in saying this is the Year that the Eagles Finally Win in the NFC Championship Game to go to the Super Bowl. The second thing that comes to mind in the 2002 NFC Divisional Playoff at Veterans Stadium against the Atlanta Falcons, what stood out about this game was the Hit that Brian Dawkins put on Falcons QB Michael Vick, that hit stopped the Falcons from scoring a TD, Eagles would go on to Win 20-6. The third memory about Brian Dawkins was the Game I went to against the Dallas Cowboys to end the 2008 Regular Season for the right to make the NFL Playoffs, Brian Dawkins had his Fingerprints all over that game especially forcing 2 fumbles that were returned for Touchdowns in the 44-6 win to make the Playoffs. The fourth memory about Brian Dawkins was the Game I went to in 2009, Dawkins 1st Game Back in Philadelphia as a Member of the Denver, the one thing I took away from that game was the Standing Ovation that Brian Dawkins received from the Crowd at Lincoln Financial Field during Pre game introductions, it was such a Bone Chilling moment that I will Never Forget.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced that they will Honor Brian Dawkins when the Eagles Host the Defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants on September 30 on NBC Sunday Night Football